Ignition apparatus for combustion chambers using intermingled combustion liquids



Feb. 21, 1950 R. H. GODDARD 2,498,253

IGNITION APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION CHAMBERS USING INTERMINGLED COMBUSTION.LIQUIDS Filed Aug. 23, 1947 lNVENTOR. ed, Dec

ATTORNEY 166KB (i dda 00000 0 o o o o odmw o o o \WOOOOOOOOOW 00000 0 0 Patentecl Feb. 21, 1950 IGNITION APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION CHAIHBERS USING INTERMINGLED COM- BUSTION LIQUIDS Robert H. Goddard, deceased; late of Annapolis,

Md., by Esther C. Goddard, executrix, Worcester, Mass., assignor of one-half to The Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation, New York, N. Y., a. corporation of New York Application August 23, 1947, Serial No. 770,312

2 Claims.

This invention relates to ignition apparatus of the general type shown in the prior patent to Robert H. Goddard No. 2,090,039, issued August 17, 1937. In said patent, means is provided for by-passing a portion of liquid oxygen to a combustion chamber at a point adjacent the disclosed ignition apparatus to assist in maintaining the igniting flamewithin the combustion chamber.

It is the general object of the present invention to improve the by-pass delivery of oxygen shown in. said prior patent, with the intention that the igniting flame may be more effectively maintained and that accidental extinguishing of the flame r y be avoided. I

To the accomplishment of this general object, an impor ant feature of the invention relates to the provision of an annular passage around the igniting tube, together with means to bypass liquid oxygen to said passage and with means to supply portions of said by-passed oxygen to the igniting flame as the flame traverses the igniting tube.

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectionalelevation of the improved ignition apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view, taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the igniting tube and of certain associated parts.

Referring to Fig. 1, ignition apparatus is shown comprising a spherical casing l havinga refractory lining H. A liquid fuel, such as gasoline, is fed to the ignition apparatus through a pipe [2, and the rate of flow may be controlled by the setting of a valve rod H. An oxidizing liquid, such as liquid oxygen, is supplied to the apparatus through a second pipe 20, and the rate of flow is controlled by the setting of a second valve rod 2|.

Baflie plates 22 and 23 in the pipe 2|! break up the stream of liquid oxygen, so that the oxygen enters the ignition apparatus in the form of a flne spray.

The intermingled combustion elements may be ignited by an electricspark developed between terminals 26 and 28 within the casing l0, the

terminal 28 being grounded and the terminal 26 being insulated and connected to an ignition wire W.

The flame thus generated in the casing I0 is projected into the combustion chamber C through an igniting tube 30 having a funnel-shapedentrance portion 3l.

The igniting tube 30 is mounted within a sleeve 40 projecting outward from the wall of the combustion chamber C and supporting the casing ill of the ignition apparatus. The igniting tube 30 is held in spaced relation with the supporting sleeve 40 by longitudinal vanes or partitions 42 which are each provided with a'plurality of transverse holes or openings 43. Additional openings 44 (Fig. 3) are provided in the tube 30 between each two adjacent vanes 42.

A pipe 50 is connected at its upper end to the oxygen feed pipe 20 at a point between a valve plate 5| in the pipe 20 and the bailie or spray plate 22. At its lower end, the pipe 50 is connected to the annular space S between the tube 30 and the sleeve 40.

The oxygen thus by-passed and delivered to the space S circulates around the tube 30 through the openings 43, and a substantial portion of this liquid oxygen is delivered through the holes ll to the interior of the igniting tube 30, where it continues the combustion of any unconsumed remaining oxygen in the space S which is discharged into the combustion chamber will, be directed toward the axis of the igniting tube 30, thus engaging the igniting flame and insuring continuous burning thereof within the chamber C.

By this construction, accidental extinguishing of the igniting flame, either in the igniting tube 30 or as it enters the chamber C, is very eflfectually avoided.

Having thus described the invention and the advantages thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what is claimed is:

1. In combustion apparatus, a wall forming a combustion chamber, ignition apparatus for said 3 combustion chamber comprising an igniting tube communicating through said wall. means to provide an igniting flame delivered through said tube to said chamber. a sleeve providing an annular passage around said igniting tube, which passage is freely open to said combustion chamber at its inner end, means to hold said tube and sleeve in concentric spaced relation, said tube having a plurality of transverse perforations therein for delivery of a portion of liquid oxygen from said passage to said igniting flame within said tube, and means to supply liquid oxygen to said annular passage for delivery into said tube and also direct to said combustion chamber..

2. The combination in combustion apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which-said sleeve has an inwardly directed flanged portion at its inner and lower end by which any liquid oxygen reaching the open lower end or the annular passage '4 is directed toward the axis of said tube and into the path 01' the igniting flame within said combustion chamber. 7

ESTHER C. GODDARD,

Executrix o! the Last Will and Testament of Robert H. Goddard, Deceased.

. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

